andLinux – Run Linux on Windows seamlessly without virtualizers!

andLinux uses CoLinux as its core which is confusing for many people. CoLinux is a port of the Linux kernel to Windows. Although this technology is like VMware or Virtual PC, CoLinux differs itself by being more of a merger of Windows and the Linux kernel and not an emulated PC, making it more efficient. Xming is used as X server and PulseAudio as sound server.

andLinux is not just for development and runs almost all Linux applications without modification.

Screenshot (click to enlarge)

To start Linux applications, you may either use the XFCE Panel:

The XFCE Panel

Or, you may choose to use the andLinux Launcher, which ships with andLinux since Beta 1. It consists of:

quicklaunch icons (e.g. for the file manager or the terminal)

a start menu in the system tray (next to the clock) which can be adapted to your own needs

so-called Explorer shell extensions, i.e. context menu item, with which you can open a folder in the file manager / terminal or open a file with the text editor

A good internet connection (to be able to install further applications)

Some basic Linux skills to proceed once andLinux is installed

What you will get

You will get:

a fully functional Linux system, however without the usual desktop (you’ve already got one from Windows)

a second panel (e.g. at the top of your Windows desktop) or a second start menu (in the system tray next to the clock), from which you can start Linux applications

Linux applications and Windows applications can be used simultaneously and you can cut and paste text between them

apt / synaptic to install further applications

You will NOT get:

another desktop

the bench of applications that usually ship with Linux distributions (you have to fetch whatever you want)

a printer driver

trouble with further drivers ;-)

Security warning: It is recommended to use andLinux only on single-user-PCs or in a trustworthy environment because the communication with the X-Server and the launcher is not secured, i.e., every user who can login to Windows can access andLinux.

This looks really interesting and promising! Am definitely going to try this out and report how it turns out